TUESDAY, April 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Parents who look
after children with serious health problems have to cope with
numerous challenges and high stress levels, but many also say
there are rewards, according to a new study.

"What is pivotal is the meaning the parents make -- what it
means to them to be a parent who is doing more than parenting:
they are caregiving as well," said lead author Susan Cadell, a
professor in the School of Social Work at the University of
Waterloo in Canada.

"For many parents this means learning a great deal about
their child's illness, the treatment, and sometimes it includes
advocating for themselves and others in similar circumstances,"
she explained in a university news release.

The study included more than 270 parents of children younger
than 20 in Canada and the United States with conditions such as
severe cerebral palsy, cancer and irreversible organ
failure.

The parents completed a questionnaire meant to determine
their level of "post-traumatic growth," a term used to describe
positive aspects of difficult situations. The areas assessed
included relating to others, personal strength, appreciation of
life and spiritual change.

The parents could score between zero and 126 points, with
zero indicating no post-traumatic growth. On average, parents
had a score of 62, according to the study recently published in
the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.

"The findings indicate that there are a variety of positive
aspects in a population where we think not much positive at all
is happening," Cadell said. "Our response rate was high because
people wanted to talk about their children, families and
relationships. This research has the potential to positively
impact support for caregiving parents."